Burial casket



.be easily molded'and'so that the Wallis there-I 'ofca'n-be' inoldedfcolfnparat-ively.thing niemeer/lease; 1926. f

` Y. ALBERT FISHER, or BUFFAL,INW YOBKQAssIGNonTo 'Univnnsiancnmnnr Y f e cnsxn'r coRroRAT'IoN, or.BurramgnnvvonnAfconron'rrolvonARiZOnA. l

fTo ZZl wlzio'jm t` Qin/ay concern.' i .p 1 Be it'knovvn thaty I, ALBERTYAQFISHEI?, a

' citizen of the United States',` residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie andState' of New. York, have inventedjcertain newvand useful.

*the fol-lowing isa 'specificationly Y My invention relates to imprevernentsin Improvements in Burial Gaskets, of

i Gaskets, and ynnore particularly'to thatV type of' casket vmoldedl or otherwise constructed of a cement mixture or [other suitable :plastic y Ycomposition.'A 7

` :21 or `siniilar plastic mixture were' *exceedingly heavy so. that they couldfn'ot. loey conveniently`- handled, and considerable dilic'ulty has been experienced lprovidlflg il" CVel" for` lid *that could be' Aluerm'etically [sea-led y -Moreover7 on account Iofthe shapeofcaskets, A j; portion,zandthe lidfor coverjitse'l'f,v had te` vheretofore constructed5 the walls er' thebody `-be vinade "comparatively'thickg'due'to the ten- V--dency to `crack after being molded. l

" ff The'fprimaryyobject'-ofjlny' invention'y is ,to

Y provide va casket",A so' constructed'that it can Another obj ectio'f Inv invention *is to pro-- f "vide construction for the casket which will V.greatly strengthen the upper portionsot theV yside and end lWalls vvhileperrnitting said yWalls to .be molded or 'othervvis'eforrnedj'corni parativelythini f Y A further'objectl of my invention is to provide. aj form offcoverf or lid which can be V*easily molded and Which tvill not'cra'ckivwhen handledwith ordinary care.V

A l. A still urther'objectisito provlde'agcaskiet in Whicliconcealed packing is"ernployed,'

y andw'hich; Whengc'onipletecb` Willihave the appearance of an ordinaryl Woodenrasketgf A still further object of my invention is f to Vprovide arv casket which Willfbe hernietif Y lge-ally sealed,"*tlius preventing yseepage of [moisture into lthe same ,and guarding ,against Vthe escape ofigases and fumesfromivithin.

ik still 'further object'of'rny invention is to Vprovide novelfrneans forsecuringthe handles `to the bodyportion vofthefcasket; ff-jf i With these and otherpbjects in viewptheA invention consists in the `'novel Vfeatures of' construction* andl g they arrangement y'and vcombinati.on *of lparts .to'belliereinafter de.`

`Gaskets heretofore constructed bfcenent "Il thesnbjoined claims.

In 'Elle drawings 1 s Fig. lyis aV side Jele'fVation,` otialconiplete .ft .casket constructedgain 1 accordance n invention-v*l vrv f f i ,Y 7 Fig. .2 1s van Venlargedftransversel section'- Y. VFigt is a still further enlarged: transverse f-r section taken through al portion :of theecasket on line 3 3, Figi.

` 'Ei'g.V 4 is'an enlarged l horizontal section tekenen* linee-14, Fig. la

Figjisasectional perspectivevievvfzinoree",- particularly illustrating the construction Iof- Y i-thefwlalls of'thebody,portion'andthefmanfv im' `Fig. Le is a detached perspenivgewlf-er Anerfof icovering :the same. e i,

i 'lflis casket comprises.' b'fdyjj portiongl 'and a'coverio'rslidQ.` i'flhe Abody portioncornf prises side and livalls and a -.bnttorri, 'land is kpreterably niolded'iwvithin a suitable moldY having an Afouten. and 'an i .inner`1` section," the fouter `fsectionf having preferably]` expansiloley Y forseparable linemloers,` fand Ltliefinner .sect-ion collapsible'.frnernbersrl However', as'thiskdoes jnot `forinvfany portion Aof myfpresentinvenf, tion; said Ibo'dyrportion maybe `constiucted 'in anyother suitable manner.

' Metallic mesh; suchasfwire ortlie i Vlike',fforrns agtrellis,y 3,' which isl molded into the sideand end Walls yand into.:.thebottom of the''.looydjv portionfiorrningQ ai foundation upwardly and Y'are provided at their upper Vfor the-cement or otherfinixturesof'twhich the vvall 'is *constructed` and tyingsuch mix?- --t-ure together so-as t'o preventl cracking .and

separationikThistrellisis soarranged that` f` I Iit `forms" substantially z fthe outline of the j'I' 1 bodvportiongfand isentirelyenclosed :evvithlin 'thek cement' mixture or-` other plastic icona-v,f

'posaienausea.= Ii Thesideand. ena wens' nare 9?, if* L the outwardly-curved portions l are in their entirety some distance above the horizontal center' of the body portion of the casket so' that almost the entire height of the side and end walls are straight-lined, thus making it possible to produce a burial casket'forined of a plastic niixture which closely resembles the regulation casket constructed of wood and usually covered with cloth. It will be apparent therefore that my invention dif-V fers from a casket having its walls rounded fromVv the lower ends thereof tov the'upper ends thereof, so formed for the purpose of giving the walls the necessary strength, but as a casket of this type is too great a departure from theY regulation casket, and'is v also much wider than the regulation type,

the production of a casket formed of plastic material having the appearance of aregulation casket without having unnecessary `weightadded thereto, is believed to be a a decided advance in the art.

VThe inwardly-directed flanges tendinginwardly from the upstanding flanges 6V and the ledges 8 extending inwardly. in a lower plane :from the ledges 7 mbeddedin the inwardly-directed flanges 5,*at intervals around-the same are lead or othersockets 9, said sockets being internally j threaded and havingtheir vupper ends flush with the surface of the ledges 7.

' strengthening the body portion at thisV point',

y and for appearance.

Placed against the upper surface of the higher ledge 7 is an as bestos orother gasket 11, the purpose for which will appear hereinafter. f

At intervals along the side walls of t-lie -body portion, handle retainers 12 are ein- I' bedded therein, eachof thesehandle retain-V "ers comprising an; upright or strap-like CFI member .13 having a horizontal extension 14:V`

atits lower'end embedded in the vbottom of I' the casket, the upperend of each retainer being directed outwardly,` as at 15,so as to extend through the side of the body portion `and having a,downwardly-openinghook 16 at vthe end of :said outwardly-directed vpor-k i tion forconnection theretoof a handle, as

will appear hereinafter. Y

The body portionrthus constructed, with they gasket 11 in'place, is covered with broadcloth or 'other suitable surfacing inate- Y rial17, this materialbeingglued to the outer -surface of thebodyportion and extended .over the u'pstanding flanges 6, over the` invwardly-directed flanges 5, and underneath '5 are each provided Vwith two ledges 7 and 8, o ne in a higher plane than the' other, the ledges 7 exthe latter so as to completely cover the ygasket 11 and give all exposed portions of the body portion an appearance` similar to a wooden casket. It is of course apparent that this surfacing material may be dispensed with and the casket finished inany other Ysuitable manner, but'since it'V is possiblevto thus produce a casket having thel appearance of a wooden casket, and since there are alsoadvantages in fully concealing the gasket 11, a surfacing material of the kind described is preferably employed.

It isV of course understood vthat thejexterior of the'casket may be further embellished and that the interior thereof inay be wooden casket. n

By curving thejupper ends ofthe side and `lined in the saine manner as an ordinary end walls outwardly, as at'l, internal Vrecesses or depressions 18 are provided with the inwardly-directed flanges 5 overlianging said recesses: or depressions, and this construction permits the side walls to beinade comparatively Vthin with: assurance. that strength and durability is assured atthe up- Vam y perv ends of said walls where greatest.'

strength is required, and where heretofore it has been found necessary to increase the thicknessl of the walls.) Moreover, the provisionof an inwardly-extending flange and an upwardly-extending liangeV at the `upper `end of each wall strengthens said outwardly .curved portion so as to kwithstand strains Y vertically and horizontally,.especially ver-` tically, since the upper end ofthe body por-V tion must'support the coveror lid l 4The outwardly curved portions at the upper endsvof theside andfend wallsgin themselves strengthen 'said walls, both r against vert-ical and horizontal strains applied therefto, and in fact against angulaiastrains as 1 well, although greatest precautions are necessary against vertical and horizontal strains, due to the fact that it is necessary to ship these ca'skets, and in many instances lthev'are 'placed one upon another.

The cover or lid Zis transversely curved, and at its ends curved downwardly, `as shown at 19, Fig. 1, and it therefore has a icon vexed exterior and a concaved interior. Ad-

jacent its marginal portion it isprovided with a downwardly-direct-ed rib 20, and like the walls of the body. portion also has wire 'netting orfsome otherl suitable trellis Qleni` bedded therein. This construction makes a comparatively light cover vor lid, which whenv freshly molded .will set without cracking, and dry evenly. Y 1 Y i Like the walls of thebo'dy portion, the

` cover is covered both lon its outer Yand inner surface with broadcloth or rotherv 'surfacing material 22, the nature ofthe mixture fro-in terial 17 and Wdean be easily glued thereto.

llO

' which the body portion 1 and the cover'Qjl is forinedbeing such. that the surfacing ma` f p retainers 12.

" ly Y curved portions, flanges,

lVheii"placing-fthecover or lid upon .thei' body-portion, the. `downwardly-directed ribs 2O thereof bear against the kcovered ."casket i 1l, the ribsbjeingof suflicientlieiglit-tomas# sure a tight: joint between y,the 4cover "j and A body portion'without bringing theinai'ginal portion of the cover or lid against the "{ipper edge of thel upstaiiding'flanges 6r f lVhen the cover or-lid2i's placed againstA theV body portion of `the casket, thumb screws 23' rotatable'iin said-cover or lid are passed through openings iicrin'edl vin the gasket-lll in line with the sockets 9,l andare threaded into said sockets, and when said screws are tightened the lid is foiced firmly against the gasket to compres'sthesaine, thus making a tight joint and preventing the entrance of water or moisture to and the escape of gasesand fumes from the interior of thecasket.

The .inner ledge ySfis yprovided to support the marginal portions of a plate of glass, such as indicated by dotted Vlines ,at2et in Figs. 2 and 3, and where employedQt-he plate of glass may beysecured to the ledge in4 any suitable manne-r. n l

Handles of caskets are oftentimes constructed of sterlingsilver, and in order-,to

utilize the vsaine set of handles on numerous ca'skets, IV have made provision to conveniently attach the handles toor detach them from the hooked extremities of the handle W'ith this endv-inview, the handles desig? nated by the ynumeral 25 are pivotally se'- cured toflugs 26 extending fromV aV dished bas-e 27, the depressed: portion offwhichis placed against the body portion of the cas-f-v ket. 'Extending through this dished base between the pivots of the handles y25 are two spaced thumb screws 28, these 'screws .being rotatable within the base- 27 but being The held against longitudinal movement. l thumb screws 28 are threaded into va retainer plate 29 which is adapted to enter the downwardly opening hook l16 offene of said handle retainers. Norm'allyysaid retainer plate 29 is positioned on thethumb screw sothat it can be conveniently 'enteredinto the downwardly opening hookl 16,' by lpositioning the dished base 27` againstthe casket-.and raising-the same, and when itv isthuspositioned, it is simply necesssa-ry'tolirotatesaid thumb screws so as to-inove said retainer plate Voutwardly against the terminal of said 'such parts entend `around the'entir'e body :where inthe claii-'ns'the sideandend-walls tinuous, or endless; fand {this'i's particularly true in 'a casketlliavii'ig rounded?endsy'siich as shown in the' drawings. Fori this reason;

are .fno-t specificallyy referred to, fthe abovey f 'quoted elements, may be expressed inthe" 'f Vsingular term,- butinlevery instanceuit is to:`

mean Vsuch fparts.extendingl'along-:allfithe Y p l. AY Havingthusdescribedmy inveiitiong'whatx walls of the casket.-

lclaiin iszl p y Y l. A burial' casket formed of plastic'ina'- terial andhaving' reinforced walls extendV ing upwardly from the bottointliereof in straight lines, said walls having parti-tubular portions at their upper ends forming an i exterior extension and an interior'depression l extending around the casket, thereby forining an enlargement of the interiorl thereof around the` upper end 'and permitting` said walls to be formed comparatively thin,'sai d anti-tubular portions terminating vin inported by saidV flange. Y l,

2. A burial casket formed of plasticina-v srs4 wardlydirected flangeaand a cover [sup-I ,l

terial'and comprising a'body portion and a cover, said'body portionvhaving an inwardly-directed flange along` its lupper portion,

'a gasket seated on said flange, and surfacing vmaterial applied to .the vwalls-ofv said `body portion and .covering said gasket-and flange,

3.313. burialr casket formedA of plastic-'maiV terial having end and side walls,"`each wally *filming provided at, its, upper., end wtlral curved portionforming a Vconvened*exteriorextension Vand av vconcaved Vinterior'depres@` sion, said Lcurved portion'having an upstand.-

*said coverrhavinga downwardly-directed rib bearing againstlsaid'covered gasket. j' v I 10Ul i j ing-flange and an inwardly-directed flange, a Igasket fitted ontof saidl inwardly-directed flanges of said walls, covering material aps plied to the exterior 'of' said walls andfcov# 110 ering said gasketl andfianges, andv acover having a downwardly-'directed rib adjacent" its marginal portions vand having its surfaces said covered gasket, and means forI 'forcing said cover firmly against said gasket.

jcovered with .covering material, including f vsaid rib, said covered-rib beariiigzagaiiist 1 if ifi-burial casket for-ined of plastic ina- Y terialand having its -walls reinforced', said casket comprising a bodyV portion |and-a cover, the walls of said body portion being curved outwardly near their upper ends and thence recurved'to form an eideriorv extenion aroundsaid casket and an interior de pression, said recurved portion terminating in an upstandingilange and an inwardly.

v j directedflange having-twoledges indifferent y horizontal planes, agasket bearing against the Vupper ledge', coveri-ngniaterial applied .y

to thev exterior.surfacesof lsaid walls and'.`

sof

covering said upstanding flangeandinward-fj 1.30 i

bear against the exterior of the casket, han" dles secured to said base, a pair ofthumb screws extending throughV said base and held against longitudinal movement, and a retainer plate through which said thumb screws are threaded, said retainer plate being adapted to engage one ofsaid downwardly-opening hooks. Y

In testimony whereof I aHX my signature.

ALBERT A, FISHER( 

